Easy Baked BBQ Tofu

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Insanely flavorful marinated and baked BBQ tofu! This recipe is totally vegan (of course) and gluten-free!

We are officially huge fans of tofu in this house! It can accompany many meals the same way chicken or beef can (without the cruelty, of course) and is so easy to diversify with different flavors and cooking methods.

This baked BBQ tofu is mouthwatering alongside vegan mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans or asparagus. It's one of our go-to dinners and totally has that meat-and-potatoes feel.

There are just a few easy steps to make baked BBQ tofu - press, marinate, and bake on a sheet pan! The first two steps can be done ahead of time for even more ease after a busy day.

Baked BBQ Tofu Ingredients

Full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the post!

• 1 block of extra firm tofu
• ¼ cup of soy sauce (can substitute with liquid aminos)
• ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of brown sugar (can substitute with maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
• ½ cup of barbecue sauce (don't add this to the marinade - it comes later!) I love this homemade vegan BBQ sauce.

You'll also need:

• A tofu press or a DIY way to press the tofu. You can wrap it in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and place something heavy on top.
• A sheet pan.
• Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat so the tofu doesn't stick to the baking sheet.

How to Make BBQ Tofu

To see the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below!

1. Press the tofu: First, press it for about 30 minutes to get some liquid out. This will make room for the marinade and improve the texture of the tofu! To learn about pressing tofu, check out my recipe for crispy tofu. It has a very helpful section dedicated to the technique!
2. Slice the tofu: Into slices about ¼-inch to ½-inch thick. Place the tofu slices into a container.
3. Make the marinade: Whisk together the soy sauce, ACV, brown sugar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
4. Let it marinate: Pour the marinade over the tofu. Place in the fridge and let it do it's thing for about 30 minutes (longer is okay - you can even let it marinate overnight but keep in mind the more marinade it soaks up, the longer it may take to cook due to higher moisture content.)
5. Bake it: Place the marinated tofu on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Brush a thin layer of barbecue sauce on each side of each slice. Bake at 425°F for 30 minutes total or until the edges are crispy, flipping and brushing the tofu with more barbecue sauce halfway through.

Variations and Substitutions

• Make it oil-free: Simply omit the olive oil if desired, but keep in mind the edges won't get as crispy without it!
• Cube it: Instead of slicing the tofu, cut it into smaller cubes! This is great for making recipes like BBQ tofu tacos with vegan coleslaw or adding to a pizza! Baking time may vary with this method.

What to Serve With

• Vegan Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Roasted Potatoes
• Oil-Free Potato Salad
• Roasted Vegetables
• Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
• Mashed Potato Pancakes
• Vegan Chopped Salad
• Vegan Biscuits